SAS AMATOLA to BOST

"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we may fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success". Stephen A Brennan.

The day has arrived. “BY THE GRACE OF MYTHOLOGY, His Lordship King Neptune has summoned all the uninitiated to pay homage to the fabled King of the Deep, Ruler of the Waves, Sovereign of all the Seas and Guardian of the Deep”.

Captain Guy Jamieson, SLt Jolene Howe and CPO Harold Jacobs enjoying an evening jog around the flight deck..

These were the words the Ships Company woke up to on Thursday morning 7th June 2007. After 4 days of "torment" by the "Kings Bears", the time arrived for the "neofidoes" to plead their case in front of the King. The charges were all trumped up and made the induction ceremony quite interesting. For example, the doctor was charged for trying to bribe the King’s Bears with chocolates and sweets causing much pain and toothache although she knew there was no dentist onboard.

The mighty ship in the Northern Hemisphere again.	The 76 mm gun being fired during a NGS drill.

The ceremony continued for most of the day and ended with the newly inducted members receiving the Freedom of the Seas allowing them to roam the oceans of the "King" freely at their own leisure.

Work onboard then continued as usual with the electricians mustering all the electrical equipment of the ships company and testing it to ensure that it complied with the safety regulations.

The MEO and Lt Cdr Dieter Jones took time off to practice their golfing skills on the equator.	The Neofidoes before their initiation.

A gunnery exercise was held where the ship simulated a naval gunfire support (NGS) exercise. (NGS, a gunnery serial where the ship supports land forces by engaging land targets from the sea).

The Sea Dogs after their initiation.	One of the many rain squalls that we sailed through approaching us like a curtain of water.

The weather has become cooler with the onset of sudden rainsqualls that the ship has been sailing through. During these cloudbursts the outside temperature dropped to approximately 22 degrees Celsius (unlike the present Cape Town temperature, we are experiencing an average 28 degrees Celsius during the day.)

CPO Quinton Manasse having his iron inspected by the electrician PO William Wilson.	PO Ashwell Hutton, AB Thilizhali Dumba and Sea Mark Clements during a mock man overboard drill.

The Ships Company has been preparing for XO's rounds and much work and time has been utilized to make the ship ready for inspection. The XO and MEO have also kept the crew alert by having fire exercises and drills to ensure that we do not let our guard down.

The XO conducting his rounds in preparation of the OC's rounds that will be held later.